The Honda Super Dream that exploded into flames on December 1 in Bac Ninh Province Photo: Tuoi Tre

Since the beginning of 2011, 18 motorbikes have burst into flames nationwide, the ministry said.

In Hanoi, 42 bike and car explosions were recorded from December 1, 2010 to December 18, 2011, according to the city’s Fire Prevention and Control Department.

Vehicles that exploded into flames belong to various brands, including Hyundai, Daewoo, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Kia, and Toyota for cars, and SYM and Honda (Air Blade, SH, Dylan, Wave) for bikes.

According to some experts, most of the burned vehicles were those that had been too old, overloaded or operated with improper or poor-quality fuel.

In addition, a number of people had installed accessories, like horns and lights, into their vehicles, and those accessories might break down after a time of operation and caused a short circuit leading to a fire.

The ministry also said many vehicle explosions had not been reported in time and the scenes of the accidents were often changed by the time investigators showed up, causing difficulties for investigators.

Owners of cars or motorbikes should also have their vehicles checked and maintained regularly to detect any technical problems, the ministry said.

It is advisable to use proper and quality fuel for vehicles to ensure safety. Before installing any accessories into vehicles, such as horns, light or other devices, owners must also make for sure that such accessories are safe for use.

When a fire or explosion happens to a car or motorbike, drivers should stay calm and immediately leave the vehicles, try to put out the fire, and report to the police, the manufacturer or other relevant agencies.

In case of a big fire, the vehicle’s owner must immediately call the nearest firefighting station, the ministry said.